A Melrose Knitting Mill Wedding for Athar and Teddy

I was so excited to play at Athar and Teddy’s wedding at Melrose Knitting Mill in Raleigh NC on October 13^th. The challenge was to not only play American music, but incorporate Palestinian dance music for Athar’s side of the family. Challenge accepted!

Their ceremony was held on one side of Melrose and the room was divided by a floor to ceiling white linen. I ran a mic for their officiant Kathie McCutcheon.  They had a string trio from Corda Entertainment cover the music.  After a short service, the 175 guests were invited downstairs for a social hour.

After pics were done by photographer Carley Page the staff flipped the room for dinner.  When the social hour was over Sarah from Melrose invited everyone back upstairs for dinner and dancing.  I left music playing and lined the wedding party up for introductions as guests found their seats.  I introduced them to “I Gotta Feeling” and Athar and Teddy to “Best Day Of My Life”.  They came in to loud applause and had their first dance to “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran. Teddy’s Mother joined him for their dance to “Child Of Mine” and she welcomed everyone after the dance. Athar’s Uncle Joe blessed the meal and the salads came out. During dinner I had a mix of soft rock, R&B and standards playing.

After dinner we had a few toasts and the opened the dance floor.  I started with some Motown and top 40 for a short set, then mixed into a set of Palestinian dance music that had both families dancing together and the energy went through the roof!! Of the 175 guests there had to be 150 on the floor dancing to dabke.  It was so great seeing both cultures dancing together and having such a great time!! I went back and forth with American and Palestinian music for the next 2 hours with a great dance floor the whole time.

We ended the night with “Sweet Caroline” before a sparkler exit.  Thank you Athar, Teddy, Cincy and Sarah.  I will never forget how much fun and truly special this wedding was!

Photo courtesy of Carley Page Photography

A Museum Of Art Wedding for Georgia and Jackson

I had never met Georgia and Jackson until their wedding on October 12^th at The Museum Of Art in Raleigh, but had a meeting with his very sweet Mother and talked to her about their wedding.

The ceremony was held in the back “garden” and I provided a mics for their officiant, Aaron, as well as a hand held one for prayers by 7 different people. The site looked beautiful with floral arrangements by Watered Garden.  They had a live cellist and violinist provide the music.  After the service that ended with both Georgia and Jackson breaking a glass, the guests were invited inside for the cocktail/dinner hour.

During the cocktail/dinner hour I had a mix of indie rock, classic soul and standards playing that Jackson mostly gave me.  I LOVED his playlist!!  Guests enjoyed passed hors d’oeuvres, small plates and looking at the museums exibits. Half way thru photographer Rebecca Ames finished up pics of the wedding party and I introduced them to “This Will be (An Everlasting Love)”. They came in to loud applause and joined the 180 guests for the rest of the cocktail/dinner hour.

After dinner we had the Cinda’s Cake cutting to “How Sweet It Is”. The toasts followed from the dance floor while the Museum staff cut the cake.  After the toasts, Georgia and Jackson had their first dance to bluesy/R&B cover of Shania Twain’s “Still The One”.  I had never heard this version before, but it is amazing!! Georgia had a dance with her Father next to “isn’t She Lovely” and Jackson and his Mother to “Count On me”.  I opened the floor to everyone with some Motown and Top 40 that filled

it for the next 2 hours. I mean FILLED!!!  We paused for a 150 people deep dance to the “Hora Medley” then back to dancing.

I ended the night with one of my favorite songs ever, “Valerie” by Amy Winehouse and finally “You Make My Dreams Come True” by Hall & Oates before a sparkler exit.

Thank you Georgia, Jackson, Sally and Morgan!  That was an amazing wedding!!

A Cookery Wedding for Brooke and David

What a fun couple!!  When I talked to them in July I could tell it was going to be a blast DJing their wedding at The Cookery in Durham NC on October 11^th.

The ceremony was held in the back garden and officiated over by their friend Casey that did a great job!! It was a fun, yet very sweet ceremony. The area looked beautiful with floral arrangements by Tre Bella.They had an acoustic guitarist provide music that was awesome as well.

After pics were done by photographer Angela Zion and video by Carolina Wedding Films, Casey introduced just Brooke and David to “Hooked On A Feeling”.  After the loud applause died down they had their first dance to “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” by Sleeping At Last. David welcomed everyone and Casey blessed the meal.  I invited guests to the banquet room for dinner with help from planner Emily from Emily Katherine Events.  The Donovan’s Dish buffet opened shortly and I had a mix of acoustic rock and covers playing during dinner. 

After dinner we had the toasts before inviting everyone back to the front room for Duck Donuts, coffee and dancing. Brooke and her Father had their dance to “Here Comes My Girl” and then with her bonus Dad to “Kind & Generous”.  David escorted his Mother to the floor for their dance to an acoustic version of “Sweet Child O Mine” by Slash and Miles Kennedy.  I opened the floor to everyone with ”Build Me Up Buttercup” lots of 80’s and Top 40 that kept them dancing for the next 2.5 hours.

We ended the night with “Wagon Wheel” by Old Crow Medicine Show.  Thank you Brooke, David, Emily and Juli!  I had a blast playing for you.

An Angus Barn Pavilion Wedding for Christi and Brian

I was so looking forward to playing for Christi & Brian, their kids and their 90 guests at The Angus Barn Pavilion on October 6^th!!

Their ceremony was held by the pond and officiated over by a past Bunn DJ Company Bride, Natalie, that did an awesome job!!  While the guests were finding their seats I had a mix of bluegrass playing.  The wedding party came down to “This Is It” by Scotty McCreery and Christi escorted by her two sons to “Our Love” by Judah & The Lion.  She timed it perfectly!  After a short service they recessed to “I’m Yours”.   Natalie invited the guests to the Pavilion’s Patio and I started a mix of country, bluegrass, rock and classic soul.

After pics were done by Brian Mullins Photography, I invited guests inside the Pavilion and to their seats for dinner.  I left music playing and lined the wedding party up with lots of help from Sarah from The Angus Barn.  I introduced them to “Let’s Get It Started” and Christi and Brian came in for their first dance to the Piano mix of “Then” by Brad Paisley.  That is my ”go to” for first dance suggestions.  So great!!  Half way thru the song I invited the wedding party to join them for the rest of the song. Natalie blessed the meal and the food stations opened. During dinner was a mix of reggae, rock, R&B and country.

After dinner we had a shoe game that I MC’d followed by the toasts from the head table.  The cake cutting was next to “My Best Friend” before an anniversary dance to “Remember When” with the winners at 54 years married!!!

I opened the floor to everyone with “We Are Family” for Christi’s Mom and some disco that filled it with young and old.  Some Top 40, country, line dances and 80’s kept people dancing until we paused for the bouquet and garter tosses.  After that I played an awesome hip-hop and top 40 set for the rest of the evening. We had a last dance to “Today” by Brad Paisley before a sparkler exit.

Thank you so much Christi, Brian & Sarah!!  I had the best time!!

A Bay 7 Wedding for Claire and Will

I never actually met Will and Claire until their wedding at Bay 7 in Durham on October 5^th.  I had a quick call with him in January and felt we were a perfect match, which we were!

Their ceremony was held that morning at Duke Forest.  The 125 guests had several hour break to unwind and check out Durham before coming over to Bay 7 for the reception.  As the wedding guests arrived I had a mix of rock, lots classic soul for Will and a few standards playing.  They enjoyed refreshments and passed hors d’oeuvres on the second floor.  Will and Claire joined them shortly.

After the cocktail hour, I invited the guests downstairs where I was with Erica and our “sleek” Bunn Photo Booth.  I left music playing and went to line the wedding party up with Angel from Bay 7 while guests already started enjoying the photo booth. I introduced them to “Uptown Funk” and each couple had their own dance down the stairs.  Claire and Will came down to loud applause and had their first dance to “Coming Home” by Leon Bridges (my favorite album from 2015). Her Parents welcomed everyone and the salads came out before the food stations opened. During dinner was same mix as cocktails.

After dinner we had the toasts and cake cutting to “How Sweet It Is”.  She joined her Father on the floor for their dance to Dean Martin’s cover of ”When Your Smiling”. It was so sweet!! He may have had a tear in his eyes…. Will and his Mother had their dance to “I Say A Little Prayer” by Aretha.  I opened the floor to everyone with “Build Me Up Buttercup” for me Mother, some Motown and Top 40 that filled the floor within the first song!  It stayed packed the whole time while I played lots of 70’s, 80’s, top 40 and a few Spanish songs.  

We ended the night with a couple sing-a-longs to “Don’t Stop Believing” and “Sweet Caroline” before the last dance to “Dancing In The Moonlight” and a sparkler exit.  Thank you Claire, Will, Erica and Angel!!  That was a really fun wedding!!

A Cookery Wedding For Kirsten and Avery

Kirsten and Avery first heard me play in 2013 when their friends Casey and Jessica were married and I was their DJ.  I was thrilled and humbled to play for them all again on October 4^th at The Cookery in Durham.

The ceremony was held in the back garden and I ran mics and music for them. As the 120 guests arrived, I had a mix of classical covers of pop songs playing.  The Grandparents and Parents entered to “A Thousand Years” by The Piano Guys.  The Bridesmaids entered to the Dave Matthews song “You and Me” covered by Vitamin String Quartet. Kirsten entered to Haley Reinhart’s cover of “Can’t Help Falling In Love”.  After a short service by officiant Kevin Holland and a reading, they recessed to “Signed, Sealed, Delivered”. Kevin invited them into the front room for cocktails and I started a mix of soft rock, classic soul and standards.

After pics of the wedding party were done by Photographer Will Greene I invited guests to the back banquet room for introductions and dinner with help from planner Emily with Events By Emily.  After everyone was seated, I introduced the wedding party to “North Cack” by G Yamazawa and they all came in to loud applause.  They took their seats and the Donovans Dish food stations opened after the plated salads.  During dinner was same music as cocktails.

After dinner we had the cake cutting to “Crash Into Me” followed by the toasts.  After guests finished their cupcake dessert, I invited them back to the front room for dancing.  Kirsten and Avery had their first dance to “Into The Mystic” by Van Morrison.  LOVE that song!! Avery escorted his Mother to the floor for their dance to “A Mother’s Prayer”.  Kirsten and her brother met on the floor for their dance that was a medley of songs I made her that ended with “Raise Up” by Peter Pablo.  The wedding party joined them as soon as that came on and opened the floor. For the next 2 hours the floor stayed packed to 80’s, lots of 2010’s Hip-Hop, current hits and some 70’s.

We paused for as bouquet toss to “Independent Women” by Destiny’s Child and garter toss to “Sexyback”.  We ended the night with “Thunderstruck” and finally “Purple Haze” for all the ECU alumni.  Thank you Kirsten, Avery, Emily and Juli!  I was honored to DJ your wedding!!

Photos courtesy of Will Greene Photography

A Bay 7 Wedding for Caroline and Jeremy

Two of the nicest people ever were married on Sunday, September 29^that Bay 7 and I was luckily their DJ!

Caroline and Jeremy’s ceremony was held on the bottom floor of Bay7, right at the bottom of the stairs. The alter looked beautiful with floral arrangements by Watered Garden. I ran all the mics and Arioso Strings covered most of the music. Their officiant, Ethan, did a great job and they had a guitarist and singer do a duet during their communion. The ceremony was so sweet and special! They also wrote their vows to each other and read them.  After the ceremony, Ethan invited guests to the second floor for cocktails and I started a mix of country, rock, classic soul and standards.

After the room was “flipped” for dinner and dancing and pics were done by Tanika and her team with Rina Studios, I invited the 150 guests back downstairs for dinner. I left music playing and went to line the wedding party up with help from Bay 7’s Sarah.  I introduced them to “Walking In Sunshine” and Caroline and Jeremy had their first dance to “Unchained Melody”. Her Mother welcomed everyone and blessed the meal, and the salads and entrees came out.

After dinner we had the toasts and Ashley’s Cake cutting (all snickerdoodle cake!!!!) to “Sugar, Sugar” before the Parents dances. Caroline joined her Father on the floor for their dance to “I’ll Never Know” by Elvis and Jeremy and his Mother to “Humble and Kind”. We had an Anniversary dance to “Have I Told You Lately” by Rod Stewart with the winners at 45 years married.  I opened the floor to everyone with “Build Me Up Buttercup” for her Mother and the floor filled for the next 1.5 hours.  Caroline had the biggest smile on her face the whole time!!  I just LOVE to see that!!

We ended the night with the very appropriate “Sweet Caroline” and finally “The Best Is Yet To Come” by Us and our Sisters.  I invited everyone back upstairs for a sparkler exit.

Thank you Caroline, Jeremy, Martha and Sarah!  I hope I get to DJ for you again!!